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The play did provoke a small outcry at the time of its first performances, as it was seen to be possibly making fun of death at the height of World War II ; however, such objections were quickly forgotten and the play went on to set all manner of British box-office records. Its mark of 1,997 consecutive performances in the West End was only eventually beaten by '' Boeing Boeing '' in the 1970s. ORIGINAL CAST At the first production (Savoy Theatre, 1941), directed by Coward himself, the main cast members were: Elvira: Kay Hammond Madame Arcati: Margaret Rutherford Charles: Cecil Parker Ruth: Fay Compton FILM It was also made into a successful film in 1945 , adapted by Coward himself and directed by David Lean : Elvira: Kay Hammond Madame Arcati: Margaret Rutherford Charles: Rex Harrison Ruth: Constance Cummings REVIVALS The play is much revived by amateur companies but has had fewer West End productions than might be expected since the original record-breaking run. Modern revivals include: Globe (now Gielgud) Theatre (1970) Elvira: Amanda Reiss Madame Arcati: Beryl Reid Charles: Patrick Cargill Ruth: Phyllis Calvert National Theatre (1976) Director: Harold Pinter Elvira: Maria Aitken Madame Arcati: Elizabeth Spriggs Charles: Richard Johnson Ruth: Rowena Cooper Vaudeville Theatre (1986) Director: Peter Farago Elvira: Joanna Lumley Madame Arcati: Marcia Warren Charles: Simon Cadell Ruth: Jane Asher Savoy Theatre (2004) Director: Thea Sharrock Elvira: Amanda Drew Madame Arcati: Penelope Keith (later Stephanie Cole ) Charles: Aden Gillett Ruth: Joanna Riding TELEVISION AND RADIO On American television Coward himself starred in a 1956 production with Lauren Bacall as Elvira, Mildred Natwick as Madame Arcati and Claudette Colbert as Ruth. On UK radio and television, notable portrayals of Madame Arcati have been given by Hattie Jacques (ITV 1964, directed by Joan Kemp-Welch , Joanna Dunham as Elvira, Griffith Jones as Charles and Helen Cherry as Ruth) and Peggy Mount (BBC radio 1983, with Anna Massey as Elvira, Paul Eddington as Charles, and Julia McKenzie as Ruth. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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